Incandescent lamp



Oct. 26, 1937; c. J. WAMSER I INCANDESCENT LAMP Filed May 20, 1956 FIG. I.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 2

lNVE-NTOR III-.J-Wamser- FIG. 4.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '2 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in incandescent lamps, and more particularly to a lamp of the tubular type, which is well known in the art.

At the present time, illuminated gas tubes, such as neon, argon, nitrogen, and other rare gases, are exceedingly popular because of their adaptability to characters and fanciful designs, whereas the use of incandescent tubes has been somewhat limited, because of difficulty in properly illuminating the same, and utilizing them in the foregoing manner.

The difiiculty in connection with incandescent tubes for decorative and display purposes has resulted largely from the fact that heretofore it has been impossible to illuminate. the entire tube by means of a filament without employing end contacts, which are objectionable, inasmuch as they detract from the desired appearance of an illuminated tube, and also form interruptions between the tubes where a plurality are employed in forming characters and fanciful designs.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an incandescent lamp 5 of the tube type, in which the filament extends throughout substantially the entire length of the tube, and the contacts project from the side of the tube adjacent its ends.

Incidental tothe foregoing, a further object 30 resides in means for supporting the filament within the tube, so as to illuminate the same throughout its entire length, and at the same time avoid shadows, which would detract from the desired effect.

35 Another object resides in the provision of an incandescent tube, in which the ends of the filament are supported by transparent arms extending inwardly from the ends of the tube, and which carry connections from the filament to 40 the contacts projecting from the side of the tube and spaced inwardly from the ends.

A still further object resides in the novel manner of supporting the filament throughout the length of a tube, of either straight or irregular contour, and at the same time eliminating objectionable shadows.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, 5 the invention resides in the novel construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise 55 embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an incandescent tube constructed in accordance with 0 the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and 15 Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7 are elevations of tubes embodying the present invention, as applied to characters of fanciful design.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral I designates an evacuated transparent or translucent tube having spaced contacts 2 secured to its side wall inwardly of the ends of the tube. The contacts 2 may be of any desired structure, and may be secured to the side of the tube in conventional manner.

Positioned within the ends of the tube I are the transparent arms 3, which carry relatively fine connector wires 4, projecting through the side of the tube and attached to the contacts 2. The ends of the arms 3 are provided with supports 5, to which the ends of the filament I5 are attached, and as best shown in Figure l, the supports 5 extend to approximately the ends of the tube I and position the filament 6 centrally of the tube.

The arms 3 are connected by relatively stiff wire I, which carries spaced transparent beads 8, certain of which are provided with vertical supporting wires 9 twisted around the filament 6, while others carry diverging fingers IQ, which engage the side of the tube to hold the wire 'I in the position shown, and consequently support the filament centrally of the tube, regardless of the contour of the same.

No attempt has been made to illustrate sockets for the contacts 2, other than in Figure 2, which shows a fragment of a casing I2, in which resilient fingers II are mounted for engagement with the contacts 2. However, it is to be understood 5 that any form of contact or socket may be employed without departing from the invention.

It will also be noted that the arms 3 are provided with vertical supports 9', which carry the filament 6, and in addition thereto the arms may be provided with diverging fingers it for engaging the sides of the tube.

While Figure 1 illustrates a straight tube i1.- luminated throughout its entire length without end contacts, Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, illustrate the use of tubes of irregular contour forming characters and fanciful design. For instance, in the formation of the letter P, Figure 4, a straight tube it may be employed, in combination with an arcuate tube It, the ends of which abut the side of the tube l2, and due to the fact that both tubes are completely illuminated throughout substantially their entire length, the efiect is that of a single tube.

From theforegoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it Will be apparent that an exceedingly efiective incandescent tube has been provided, which is not only illuminated throughout its entire length, but also avoids the use of end contacts. Due to the fact that the contacts 2 project from the side of the tube adjacent its ends, the same are entirely obscured from view when the contacts are inserted into their supporting sockets.

While other attempts have been made to support the filament in an incandescent tube so as to project the same throughout substantially the length of the tube, thus obtaining complete illumination, the filament supports have necessarily been constructed of heavy rigid material, with the result that objectionable shadows resulted. The same has been true of intermediate supports employed for the filament, not only in straight tubes, but also in those of irregular contour. It will therefore be appreciated that the salient feature of the present invention resides in the provision of transparent arms for supporting the ends of the filament, and carrying the connector wires to the contacts, spaced inwardly from the ends of the tube. V

I claim:

1. An incandescent lamp comprising a translucent, elongated, tubular bulb closed at its ends, contacts secured to the side of the bulb inwardly of its ends and projecting laterally therefrom, a transparent arm positioned in each end of said tube and extending from a point alined with one of the contacts to substantially the end of the tube, the end of said arm adjacent the end of the tube projecting laterally to substantially the lonitudinal axis of the tube, and a connector wire embedded in each of said arms, one end of said Wire extending from the lateral projecting end of said arm and connected with one end of the filament to support the same, the other end of said wire being attached to the adjacent contact and serving to anchor said arm against shifting.

2. An incandescent lamp comprising a translucent, elongated, tubular bulb closed at its ends, contacts secured to the side of the bulb inwardly of its ends and projecting laterally therefrom, a transparent arm positioned in each end of said tube and extending from a point alined with one of the contacts to substantially the end of the tube, the end of said arm adjacent the end of the tube projecting laterally to substantially the longitudinal axis of the tube, a connector wire embedded in each of said arms, one end of said wire extending from the lateral projecting end of said arm and connected with one end of the filament to support the same, the other end of said Wire being attached to the adjacent contact and serving to anchor said arm against shifting, and means connected with-the adjacent endsof said arms for supporting said filament at spaced points intermediate its ends.

CHARLES J. WAMSER. 

